Time may change but conditions won’t necessarily change until there’re efforts to bring about the change. When reservation was coined after independence, the socio-economic conditions of every caste was not what it is today.
The categorisation between “forward castes” and “backward castes” had some reasons. Forwards were termed forwards because they were forwards; economically and socially. The same was with the so called backward castes. At that time, caste was the easiest parameter to decide people’s economic and social status. A few from backwards were definitely rich and socially well placed but then, exceptions can’t be taken as examples. What created that difference in that economic and social status is another issue.
There were arguments against reservation at that time as well. When Constitution talks about equality, why should different people would get varied opportunities? But this clause was adopted because special privilege to economically and socially backwards was needed to achieve the greater goal of the Constitution, i.e., equality for everyone: economically and socially. The purpose was to uplift the backwards with additional support to match the rest.
The idea was noble. But when it came about implementations, the things emerged differently with a small section of the backwards grabbing maximum opportunities, generations after generations. And the maximum crowd, for whom the reservation was meant, failed to get its benefits. The main reason behind this failure lies in the opportunist approach of our leaderships, generations after generations. More than reservation, proper and free education and proper job opportunities, besides economic support, were needed for the upliftment of the backward section. But every political party used reservation only to seek votes. The upliftment was never in their minds as no government tried to strengthen the fundamentals, i.e., proper education and job opportunities to all.
Here most of the kids don’t even reach the senior secondary and if some do, there is no job in the market, specially for those passed out of government schools. Such is the education standard. Family responsibilities, lack of ideas and hopes are some of the reasons for kids leaving the studies. So, where most of the kids don’t even reach the senior secondary, what purpose will it serve while giving reservation in higher studies? It is bound to be utilised by those who are already relatively developed.
In that case, people from the forward castes raising questions are not totally wrong. Before them, the examples are maximum of only those who definitely don’t deserve the reservation. Seeking parity makes sense. Its other thing that the ground of that demand is based on distorted and selective facts. The thought that Hardik Patel represents is the child of this condition, a product of failure of Indian system. But if his demand is fulfilled and Pattidars are given reservation benefits, citing that small section of their caste which definitely deserve it, who else should be left? There are economically and socially backwards in Brahmins, Rajputs and Kayastas as well, though a few.
It’s true that we can not go on giving reservation to some particular castes for 100 or 200 years (seven decades have almost already passed). But for abolishing this clause, the situation isn’t changed. It’s a sad truth.
There are demands that instead of uniform caste based reservation, it should be given to those who are economically backwards. There should be a proper census on economic basis. This is an amusing thought. But the experiments so far on ‘economic basis’ have not achieved success yet. We come from a society where socially and economically forwards get BPL cards before those who actually deserve it and finally don’t get it. This can be argued but still today caste remains the finest and easiest parameter to decide social and economic backwardness. Get out of urban areas to realise this.
The need of the hour is to immediately provide proper education, scholarships and job prospects to everyone. The extension of reservation has no alternative because we have not changed anything substantial so far. The purpose behind the idea is yet to be fulfilled. It will take at least a generation, if we start right now. (By Nihil. Views expressed by the author are his own)
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